Disposable sanitary napkin-belt combination

ABSTRACT

A sanitary napkin having an elastic strand attached thereto to serve as a belt is packaged as a disposable unit. The strand is provided with a buckle whereby the wearer may secure the ends of the strands together to form a sanitary napkin-supporting belt around her waist. The unit is packaged by enveloping it with a plastic sheet having a slot. A portion of the buckle is pulled through the slot to expose it outside the package, whereby the exposed portion serves as a tab to sever the wrapping and open the package.

United States Patent Inventor Mafalda L. Rugen 17 Crest Drive, Murray Hill, NJ. 07971 791,450

Jan. 15, 1969 Apr. 20, 1971 Appl. No. Filed Patented DISPOSABLE SANITARY NAPKIN-BELT COMBINATION 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 128/289, 206/632 Int. Cl A61f13/16 Field of Search 128/289- 291;206/63.2

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,667,522 4/1928 Amezaga 128/289 2,003,654 6/1935 Polson 128/289 2,750,033 6/1956 Pickens 206/632 2,798,490 7/1957 Fullerton 128/289 3,135,262 6/1964 Kobler et al. 128/285 3,156,241 11/1964 Hyde et a1 128/289 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Att0rney-Abraham A. Saffitz ABSTRACT: A sanitary napkin having an elastic strand attached thereto to serve as a belt is packaged as a disposable unit. The strand is provided with a buckle whereby the wearer may secure the ends of the strands together to form a sanitary napkin-supporting belt around her waist. The unit is packaged by enveloping it with a plastic sheet having a slot. A portion of the buckle is pulled through the slot to expose it outside the package, whereby the exposed portion serves as a tab to sever the wrapping and open the package.

PATENTED5PR20197| 3575171 INVENTOR MAFALDA L. RUGEN BY K LZZL Mia-.01

ATTORNEY 1 DISPOSABLE SANITARY NAPKlN-BELT COMBINATION This invention relates to a sanitary napkin having a supporting belt attached thereto to form a unitary device.

An object of this invention is to provide an assembly of a sanitary napkin and a supporting belt attached thereto, thus presenting a sanitary device which does not need a separate support belt means.

Another object is to provide a sanitary napkin provided with a supporting belt, both elements so constructed and assembled as to form an economical disposable unit.

Another object is to provide a disposable unit comprising a sanitary napkin with a supporting belt attached thereto. The belt is in the form of an elastic or elasticized strand secured to the ends or tabs of the sanitary napkin. A simple buckle and hook means are utilized to connect the ends of the belt to form an endless stretchable belt, fitting securely around the waist of the wearer. In view of the low cost of the belt, the belt may be disposed with the napkin to form a disposable unit.

A further object is to package the above described disposable unit in plastic material, and to utilize the buckle of the belt as an opening tab for the plastic wrapping, thus providing easy access to the packaged unit.

The improved disposable unit of the invention presents other features and advantages which will become apparent from a consideration of the following description taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the sanitary napkin with the belt attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the assembly of the belt and buckle means;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the sanitary napkin and belt unit located between and related to the wrapping elements forming the package; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the completed package and shows the functioning of the buckle as the packageopening means.

FIG. 1 illustrates the assembly of the sanitary napkin and its supporting belt. The sanitary napkin 1 is of conventional construction having ends or tabs 2 which are folded over to fonn loops or hems 3. The hemming may be accomplished in any manner, as by sewing, stapling or bonding.

Belt 5 comprises an elastic or elasticized strand or cord 6 of suitable material and of sufficient size to gently and comfortably hug the wearers waist and support the sanitary napkin. For example, the strand may be a rubber covered or spandex thread of about one-sixteenth inch in diameter. Strand 6 may be pulled through hems 3 after they are formed, or the ends of tabs 2 may be folded over strand 6 and then secured to form hems 3. The sanitary napkin is thus secured to belt 5 as shown in FIG. 1.

One end of strand 6 is secured to a buckle 7. While buckle 7 may be made of any material, it is preferably made of a soft plastic, such as polyethylene. Strand 6 may be attached or bonded to buckle 7 by various means. Preferably, strand 6 is secured to buckle 7 by tying an end of strand 6 within an opening 8 in buckle 7. The other end of strand 6 is secured to a hook means 9. Hook 9 may be secured to buckle 7 by inserting its end within opening 10 formed in the buckle opposite opening 8. With hook 9 secured to buckle 7, belt-5 becomes an endless elastic band, which comfortably hugs the wearer's waist. The napkin is attached to the belt at both ends and thus the belt fully supports the napkin and maintains it in its desired position. If found necessary, hook 9 may be adjustably tied along strand 6 to properly fit the waist of the wearer.

The combined sanitary napkin and belt forms a unit which may be packaged in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The

ends 2 of the napkin with portions of the belt attached thereto are infolded as shown in FIG. 3. The folded unit may be inserted between cardboard base 14 and plastic wrapper element or sheet 15. Wrapper 15 may be made of any commercial flexible plastic-packing material. It may envelop the entireunit including base 14 and its ends sealed to each other, or it may be bonded to base 14 and only envelop the three exposed sides of the combined sanitary napkin and belt unit. Plastic sheet 15 is scored along a line 16 at a region which would overlie the belt buckle 7 in the completed package. In packaging, the end of the buckle not tied to strand 6 is inserted in score line 16, approximately along its center, so that a portion of the buckle is exposed outside the package. As shown in H05. 3 and 4, the portion of buckle 7 having opening 10 is exposed to the outside of the package.

The exposed portion of the buckle is used as a pull tab to open the package, that is, sever or tear the plastic wrapping along and beyond line 16.

Thus, there is provided an easily openable package containing a sanitary napkin and a supporting belt attached thereto, all assembled as a disposable unit and ready for immediate use without further assembly or the need of separate belt means, as is now common in packaged units. While the disclosed packaged units may be merchandised in various stores, they are especially adaptable for vending machines. g

The combined napkin and belt form a compact package which does not require much space in purses or bags. The combined belt and napkin is immediately available for service when necessary. Use of the combination belt and napkin eliminates the need for separately purchasing the conventional reusable sanitary belt, carrying this belt for anticipated or emergency use, and laundering it after use.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purpose of illustration, it will be evident that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A combined wrapper, sanitary napkin and belt unit comprising:

a unitary napkin member having opposite ends which are folded over to form hems;

an elastic strand serving as a belt to be worn about the waist,

said elastic strand passing through eachof said hems and thereby engaging the ends of the napkin member, one end of said elastic strand being secured to a hook;

buckle means to secure the ends of the elastic strand and thereby close the belt about the waist, said buckle means comprising a slot at one end to detachably engage said hook and thereby open and close the belt, and said buckle means further comprising an opening at the other end to which the other end of said elastic strand is tied; and

a wrapper for packaging the napkin and belt unit, said wrapper comprising a sheet of plastic material enveloping theunit, and said buckle means in unbuckled position protruding through and coacting with said wrapper to aid in opening the package.

2. A combined wrapper, sanitary napkin and belt unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wrapper includes a generally rectangular single sheet of outer wrapping material having a transverse score line and a slot, said buckle protruding partially through said slot and serving as a tab to break the score line and thereby open the package.

3'. A combined wrapper, sanitary napkin and belt unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said package includes a sheet of relatively rigid material placed on the side of the napkin and 

1. A combined wrapper, sanitary napkin and belt unit comprising: a unitary napkin member having opposite ends which are folded over to form hems; an elastic strand serving as a belt to be worn about the waist, said elastic strand passing through each of said hems and thereby engaging the ends of the napkin member, one end of said elastic strand being secured to a hook; buckle means to secure the ends of the elastic strand and thereby close the belt about the waist, said buckle means comprising a slot at one end to detachably engage said hook and thereby open and close the belt, and said buckle means further comprising an opening at the other end to which the other end of said elastic strand is tied; and a wrapper for packaging the napkin and belt unit, said wrapper comprising a sheet of plastic material enveloping the unit, and said buckle means in unbuckled position protruding through and coacting with said wrapper to aid in opening the package.
 2. A combined wrapper, sanitary napkin and belt unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wrapper includes a generally rectangular single sheet of outer wrapping material having a tRansverse score line and a slot, said buckle protruding partially through said slot and serving as a tab to break the score line and thereby open the package.
 3. A combined wrapper, sanitary napkin and belt unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said package includes a sheet of relatively rigid material placed on the side of the napkin and belt unit opposite the buckle so as to shape and reinforce the package. 